As another year of family meals, potluck gatherings, and weeknight dinner scrambles comes to a close, we’ve rounded up the recipes that resonated most with busy parents like you in 2024. From Ina Garten’s foolproof comfort classics to the Pioneer Woman‘s crowd-pleasing family favorites, these tried-and-true dishes have earned their spots in countless kitchen rotations.
Whether you were searching for quick-fix solutions on hectic weeknights or planning special weekend meals that would please even the pickiest eaters, these recipes consistently delivered – and the page views prove it. What makes these particular recipes stand out? They strike that perfect balance of being both kid-friendly and parent-approved, with straightforward ingredients you can find at any grocery store and clear instructions that don’t require culinary school expertise.
Parents understand the daily challenge of putting wholesome, delicious food on the table while juggling everything else life throws your way and that’s why we’re particularly excited to share this collection – these aren’t just our most-clicked recipes; they’re the ones that have become reliable standbys in homes across the country, saving dinner time for families just like yours.
5. The Pioneer Woman’s Potato, Corn & Sausage Chowder
Coming in at the number five spot is a hearty and savory chowder recipe from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond. Drummond’s sausage, potato, and corn chowder recipe is an ultra-comforting dish that her young adult children gobble up. You can watch her make it and get the full recipe over on the Food Network’s YouTube channel here.
4. The Pioneer Woman’s Chicken Pesto Lasagna
Lasagna is a classic weeknight dinner but sometimes all of that layering can get a little time-consuming. Drummond gave us a delightfully fresh spin on lasagna with her chicken pesto lasagna recipe. You can read more about the recipe and learn to make the easy skillet dinner here.
3. Ina Garten’s East Hampton Chicken Salad
Chicken salad was all the rage this summer. TikTok was obsessed with Round Swamp chicken salad but our readers couldn’t get enough of the chicken salad recipe Ina Garten used to “make mountains of” in her original East Hampton store, Barefoot Contessa. You can read all about it here.
2. The Pioneer Woman’s Marry Me Chicken
This recipe wasn’t just popular with our readers. It took TikTok by storm and was even the Pioneer Woman’s most popular recipe of 2024 as well. Once you see how easy and delicious it is, you’ll understand why.
1. Ina Garten’s 5-Ingredient Microwave Oatmeal
Of course, the number one spot belongs to our culinary hero, Ina Garten. Our readers absolutely could not get enough of Garten’s easy, five-ingredient comfort dish that’s made entirely in the microwave. “I make my oatmeal in the microwave — it’s so easy!” the Food Network chef wrote on her site, Barefoot Contessa. The recipe only calls for salt, milk, butter, and maple syrup. After combining ingredients, pop it in the microwave and you have a warm, sweet, and delicious dish to warm you up on cold winter days. You can read more about the recipe here.
Leave a Comment